Combined air gauge and self closing outlet fitting



March 22; 1932. F. N. KELsr-:Y

COMBINED AIR GAUGE AND SELF' CLOSING OUTLET FITTING 2 sheets-sheet i Filed Sept. lO, 1928 im. n. www, OQNII Mrch 22, 1932v F' KELSEY COMBINED AIB GAUGE 'AND SELF' CLOSING QUTLET FITTING .Filed Sept. l0, 192g 2 Sheetsheet 2 PatentedA Mar.` 22,'r 1932A FRANK N. KELSEY,OF NEWHAVEN. CONNECTICUT,AssIGNOR or ONE-HAL sWoI-.nor CLINTON, CONNECTICUT Y COMBINED .AIRCAUGNAND sELcLosINC OUTLET FITTING Y l Application kfiled. Septemberl 10, '1928. Serial No. 305916..-

This invention relates tok an' improvement in combined air-gauges and selfclosing out letelittings commonly known as air-chucks K and designed forluse as terniinalffittings for air-hose used in Connectionvrwith the inflation of tireathcngh not so limited'.-

The 'obj ect of thisv invention is to produce a convenient and 'reliable fitting of the type referred to ywhich will signal the user when a 'y predetermined air-pressure has been'built up in the tire,etc., beinginflated Vor charged.

Vith this ob] ect in View,A inventionr Consists in a combined airgauge and self-closing outlet-tting having certain detailsof conA struction and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and particularly recited in the claims; i In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is av view in side elevation ofa com-r zobin'ed air-gauge and selfJclosing'outlet-fitting constructed in accordance with Vmy kin.- vention;-' A f:

Fig. 2 is a view thereofA infronteend; elef.`

Fig. 3 is an enlarged-scale central'flongitudinal'section taken on 'the line of Fig.v 2

and showing 'the parts in their normal positions; y 'Y i 4 is a view corresponding to 3 but showin'gthe partsin the. positions which they assume after thelitting has beenV applied to a tire-valve nipple and after .the'air has been built up in the tire to the predetermined c I Y above mentioned is alongitudinal airfpassage degree so as to 'actuate the combined relief! "and-signal valve-plunger; ,4 y l Fig. 5 is aview intransverse section on the Fig.` 6 is a corresponding'view:ontheline 7-7 of Fig. 3; I I c .Y

' Fig. 8 is a correspondingfview `on the line Fig. 9 is a detached-side view of theconif Fig. 11 is a similar View of the signal-and.

relief valve-plunger. 5' In Vcarrying out my Invention asy herein- Fig. 7 is a correspondingviewonfthe line shown, I employ `a tubular body-member 15 having along substantially axial bore 1,6 and provided at its outer end witha short ,tubu4 lar neck 17 offsetting from it at a right-:angle and formed with an aXi-al chamber 18.

About midway of its length the body-meme'v member 15 aforesaid. The rear end of the cap-member 23 has projecting outward-from ita nipple .'26over Awhich the end of anv airhose 27v is adapted toV be sleeved, as shown'by broken lines in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. I The 'nippleV 26 of the cap-member 23 is formed with an axial'passage 28intersecting at its inner end a radial passage 29, the outer:`

end of which registers with a port 30 leading` ont of a central passage 31- formed in 1a tapered plug 32 having an-eXternally-thread;

ed head 33 Vseatedin an internally-threaded recess 34V formed in the rear face of the capv membery 28.` The said plug-member 32 is l seated in a short bore 35 formed in the` capmemberL andfhasitsf'o'rward end extended intoa bore 36 formed @inthe rear end of. the body-member 15. v f *Y Leading forward `from-'the bore k36 just-r 87 intersectingV at its extreme forward end a recess 38- formed in theV bottom ofthe. cham,-`

ber L18 of theneck 17` y'so as to conductl air to;

thesaid chambervfrom thehose *27.7K1 ,f

The egress of the airgfrom theV recessBSI controlled by a reciprocating outlet 'valvee plungerl 39l having` aradial port`40 intersect` Iren STATES .Y PATENT OFFICE] ing an axial passagel 41'` openingthrough-.the

Outer end of the externally-threaded stern42` 1 i ofthe said valve-'plunger'and adaptedto conduct air to an aligned a'X'ial passage 42rbt formed Ain the internally-threaded shank 43 of an outlet-valvev extension-memberr 44 hav'-Y ing its extreme outer end provided withtwo radial outlet-ports 45. leading outward from the axial passage 42a" aforesaid. v Y

Near its outer end the extension-member 44 is formed with an annular recess 46 receiving the inner edge of a washer-like flexible diaphragm 47 which has its outer edge pinched between the outer face of the neck 17 and a cap 48 threaded thereon, as clearly shown in the drawings, and provided with a central clearance-passage 49 surroundingthe extremeouter end of the outlet-valve eXtension-member 44.

Directly back of the diaphragm 47 l'the eX- tension-member 44 is formed with a disc-like annular flange 50 which backs-up the said diaphragm and is adapted to reciprocate within the chamber 18 in the neck 17 aforesaid. The flange 50 forms a seat for the outer end of a helical spring 51 located in the said chamber and encircling the said valve-extension member and bearing at its inner end against the outer face ofra cup-shaped bushing 52 eX- ternally threaded for Vengagement with threads formed internally within the chamber 18, as shown in the drawings, and seated at the extreme bottom thereof.

Positioned within the cup-shaped bushing 52 aforesaid is a fibrous disc-likevalve-seat 53 through which the valve-'plunger 39 eX- tends and which is adapted to be engaged Yby the overhanging head 54 thereof to prevent the escape of air outward from the recess 88. The said head 54 is normally maintainedagainst the inner face of the seat 58 by the tension of the helical spring 51.

Bearing against the outer face of the valveseat 58 is a metallic washer55 which is interposed between the same and the outer edge of a conical diaphragm 56 which is clamped in place in the bushing 52 aforesaid hy means of a clamping-cup 57 which is exteriorlythreaded. as shown, for engagement with threads Aformed internally within the said bushing 52. The said diaphragm 56 is composed of elastic material and has its center. perforated, as shown for the passage-through it ofthe stem 42 of the valve-plunger 89 to which it is attached b v a Vclamping-nuti58 threaded upon the shank and clamping the inner edge of the said diaphragm against a shoulder 59 formed on the said valve-plunger. A librouswasher 60 is placed against thevouter face of the said nut 58 and is heldl permitted to pass outward through the by pass channel 61.

When the valve-plunger 39 is pushed inward as will hereinafter appear, air is forced outward through the by-pass channel 61 and the by-pass port 62 in the sleeve 63 and into the chamber 18. Intersecting the said chamber at its lower end is a passage 64, the upper end of which leads into a chamber 65 formed at the extreme forward end of the 'bore 16 of the main body-member 15 between a plug 66 threaded into the eXtreme outer end of the said chamber and a partition-disc 67 also threaded into the said chamber in spaced relation to the plug 66.

The said partition-disc is formed with an axial passage 68 and on its rear face with an axially-arranged conical projection 68L which latter is engaged by a sealing-washer 69 carried upon the forward end of a. reciprocating combined relief-andsignal valve-plunger 70 which has sliding bearing within a valvebody 71 threaded into the bore 16 of the bodymember 15 just back of the partition-plate 67 aforesaid and provided with a radial passage 72 intersecting a longitudinal Vgroove 7 3 cut in its periphery.

The valve-plunger 7 0 is formed in one side with atransverse notch 74 receiving the inwardly-curved inner end of detent-spring 75 which is positioned within a longitudinal groove 76 formed in the valve-body 71 and clamped in place by means of a collar 77 encircling the reduced forward end of the said valve-housing and axially adj ustablev thereon 10.0 to vary the tension of the said detent-spring.

The rear end of the valve-plunger 70 is conically concaved as at 78 and receives the conically-pointed forward end 79 of a terminal piece 80 which is Screwed into the for- 1015 `ward end of a combined springseat and vibrator-body 81.

The said vibrator-,body is formed with an axial passage 82 into the rear end of which an inclined reed or vibrator 83 projects, its forward end being secured by lli solder or other means to the forward end of the body 81.

The terminal piece 8O aforesaid serves to .hold in Aplace against the forward end of the vibrator-body 81 a packing-washer 84 which 11b reciprocates within the bore 16, as will hereinafter appear. The said terminal-piece 8O is formed withan axial air-passage 85 connecting with the passage 82 in the vibratorbody aforesaid and having radial passages 121 86 leading into it from the periphery of the said terminal piece.

Encircling the major portion of the vibrator-vbody 81 and seated against an annular flange 87 thereon is a helical springr 88 po- 12v' sitioned within the bore 16 of the body-member 15 and having its rear end encircling the sleeve-like'outer member `89 of a two-part adjustable spring-seat which also comprises an inner or main member 90. The said outer member is internallyethreaded, as shown, for

co-action with threadsV formed externally' formed in the rearend of thekbody-member phere.

the bore 16 15 and areengaged by the'forward face of anannularfflange 92ainward1l1y-projecting from the extreme rear end of the adjusting-sleeve To permit thelready escapeofthe 4air from of the body after the same has vibrated the reed 83 as will hereinafter appear, I provide the rear face'ofthe cap-member 23 with a vent-passage S93-connecting the rear end of the said bore 16fwith the atmos- VFrom the construction previously described, it will Vbe apparent that turning the adjusting-,sleeve 21 in one direction or the other it will, through the `mediaryof the docking-spring diaphragm` 47,

flange 92, pin 91and thetwo-part'L springseat 89.*90, effect the tension of thev spring 88.` To yieldingly hold the saidadjustingsleeve in different positions of adjustment, l form the same upon its periphery with a series of pockets 94- adapted to receive Van inwardly-offset bend 95 formed in a segmental 96 positioned in` a, shallow annular groove 97 `in` the periphery ofthe cup-shaped forward end 22 of the cap-member23 near the forward end thereof. The saidbend 95 of the locking-spring 96 reaches inwardA to engagethe pockets 94V through a radial-passage 98 leading inward from the groove 97 aforesaid; Positioned over the groove 97 aforesaid to 'confinetherspring 96 therein is an oscillatable knurled collar 99 formed in its inner face with a` segmental groove 100, which latter lis' adapted to be brought in line with the bend 95=to permit the same to be sprung outward when itis `desired to turn the adj Listing-sleeve 21'. Y y

In the use of my improved fitting the neck 17 thereof is slipped over a tire-nipple 101 which projects inwardthrough the clearanceopening 49 therein and has its upper end enwith thev under yface ofv theV flexible as shown in Fig. 4 lof lthe At this time the extreme outer fraged drawings.

` endof the Voutlet-valve.extension-member 44 engages the usual valve-stem'102 of the said tire-nipple and opens the valve therein in the usual way to permit` the passage of air into the tire to whichthe said nipple is attached.

The entry of the tire-valve nipple 101 into the outer end of the neck 17 forces the diaphragmV inward extension-member V44 yand the outlet-valve two-part f by the and withY it the r-outlet-valve ,Y

plunger 39. This movement moves the partsy from the positionfshown in Fig. 3- to the position shown in F ig. 4, which lifts the valvehead 54 clear of its seat Y53 and permits air to flow into the tire-valvernipple from the hose 27 `va the passages 28 and 29, port 30, passage 31, bore V36,passage 37, recess 38,

. port 40,'passages 41 and 42a,and the radial outlet-ports 45.

Coineidental with the opening of the valve 44 topermit the flow of air into the tirevalve nipple as above described, air is also permitted to flow youtward through the bypass channel 61, by-pass port 62', and into Vthe chamber 18, from which place it is conducted passage 64 to the chamber 65 in the forward end of the bodymember, from which chamber the air passes through the axial pasiso sage v68 in the partition-disc 67,`so as to exert its pressure against the forwardA end of the combined relief and signal valve-plunger 70.

Now as the air pressure is gradually built upwithin the tire or other object beinginflatedor charged, the pressure willV similarly r be built up in the chamber k65 and the passage 68, with lthe effect ultimately ,of movingthe saidplunger 70 rearward against the tension of the spring 88 until such time asthe frontV wall @of thenotch 74 therein engages the inwardlysturned end Vof the detent-spri'ng 7 5,

at which time the `movement of the said plungerv will be temporarilyhalted.

yIt maybe mentioned in this connection that i the tension of the'detent-spring I75`is of'a predetermined' amount which, for convenience, may be presumed to offer a resistance lto vthe movement "ofy the valve-plunger 70 equivalent to fifteen pounds air pressure exerted thereon,

maybe set for other predeterminedpressure,

if desired. Y Now, when the pressure built upivwithin the tire and exerted against the forward end though it is obvious that it .l

of the valve-plunger 7 0 exceeds the predeter` mined pressure for which the detent-spring is set,it will snapthe inwardly-turned end of the saidspringfoutward andtherebybe suddenly relieved of the restraint ofthe said spring and snap rearward into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4, with the effect.I

as shown, of uncovering the radial port 72 in the valve-bodyand permit the air to escape therethrough and through Vthe peripheral pas-j sage 73, thence-inward through the passages 86 in the terminal#piece 8O through vthe axial passages 851and 82.'f1`o1n which latter passa-ge the air will escape into the bore 16 by vibrating the reed or vibrator 83, from whence itg,A

will'p'ass outward fromthe said bore through p the relief orvent port 93`in the cap-menibeI'QS. o v

The vibrationk of the-reed 83 is a'signaltto the user of my improvediitting that the presl sure `within the tire has reached the pressure for which the-adjusting-sleeve 21 had been ias ' to move the also shuts off the supply of air to the vibrator function.

83 which will immediately cease to tothe ac- I wish to call particular attention .tion of the detent-spring 75 which prevents the port`72 inthe valve-body 7l from being slowly uncovered which would prevent the building-up of the required pressure-within thetire being inflated before the reed 83 was actuated. As has been previously described, the valve-plunger 70 is 'permitted to move a predetermined distance free of any restraint by the said detent-spring without, however, uncovering the port 72. After the said valveplunger has-moved a predetermined distance, the front wall of its notch 7 4 will engage the inwardly-turned end of the detent-spring 75 and be retained in that position until such time as the air pressure ,exerted against its forward end is suflicientV to not only overcome the predetermined tension of the helical spring 88 but also to cam, so tospeal, the inner end of the detent-spri'n g outward. This sudden release'of the restraint of the detentspring 75 as above described permits the plunger 70 to snap rearward and uncover the port 72. By this arrangement, the buildingup of the desired pressure within the tire is notprevented by the gradual uncovering of the port 72. A

Another feature which is of particular importance in my improved fitting is the diau phra-gm 56, which prevents the escape of air from the recess 38 through any other channel than that of the port 62 in the sleeve 63 en* circling theV shank 43 of the valve extension member 44. Y

Itis highly important in a device of the type to which my invention relates'to beable to regulate the amount of air escaping outward through the by-pass passage 6l which effects the Vmovement of the relief-valve plunger 70. As has been previously described, the sleeve 63 affords a convenient and reliable means of adjusting the flow of air in uestion since b rotating it with respect to the valve-extension member, it may be caused to restrict the escape of air through the channel 6l aforesaid therein.

' I claim:

l. Adevice of the character described comprising a hollouT body;

a reciprocating valveplunger located within the said body and formed with a` detent-shoulder; a substantial L-shaped resilient detent also mounted in the said body and having one end located in position to be engaged by the i said detent- -shoulder and its other end' locked in place by lshoulder of the said valve-plunger and its other end held in lplace upon an exterior surface of the said bushing byV an axially sliding band; whereby the tension of the. said detent may be varied by a sliding movement of the said band with respect to the said bushing.

3. A device of the character described comprising a hollow body; a combined relief and signal valve mounted in the said body and including a valve-plunger formed with a detentshoulder, an air-operated audible signal de"- vice arranged in the said body in line with the said plungerso as to be moved thereby; an adjustable spring bearing against the said audible signal device which it partly encircles in position to act therethru to urge the said valve-plunger into its closed position; and a yielding detent-finger engaging the aforementioned detent-shoulder in the plunger of the relief and signal valve to yieldingly resist the opening thereof .until a predetermined air-pressure has been built up in the object being inflated.

V4c. A device of the character described'com prising a hollow body; a signal-valve mounted in the said body and including a valvebody formed with af radial port and valve* plunger reciprocating in said valve-body and normally covering the radial port therein; an adjustablespring arranged in said body to urge the said plunger into posit-ion to cover the said radial port; andayielding detent engaging the said valve-plunger to resist the movement thereof until a predetermined airpressure has been built up in the object being inflated.` Y

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

FRANK N. KELSEY. 

